Mail carrying and distributing device



Feb. 10,1925; 7 I 1,526,122

C(DAU MAIL CARRYIHG AND DISTRIBUTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 10.. 1923 IN l/EN TOR OZ'Z'OD U A TTORNEYS release Feb. 10, 1925.

or'ro use, or Yn'rriiv. uneitnsxs.

smear Mari, CARRYING Ann ms'rnriaurrue DEVICE.

Application filed Deceniber'ltl, lees. Serial No. erases.

To all whom it may concern:

Be. it known that l, U'r'ro DAU, a citizen of the United States, and-aresident of Yet-an, in the county of Saunders and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and Im proved Mail Carrying and Distributing Device, of which the following is a fulh clear, and exact description. I

This invention has relation to a receptacle for mail matter and has particular reference to a device for facilitating the carrying and distribution-of rural mail. p

In the present practice or system the postmaster sorts the mail and distributes the sameto each carrier who then re-sorts the same on his routing table. When the letters,

papers and other matter are sorted and placed in the respective files thecarrier then ties and piles the different bundlesin the proper order for delivery or distribution over his route. This necessitates double and tedious work for the carriers, occasions delay and often results in mistakes.

The present invention contemplates a device which will overcome the above recited objections and difficulties by providing a receptacle which is designed to eliminate the use of sorting and routing tables foreach carrier, which eliminates the necessity of tying mail into bundles and which affords full protection to the mail matter against loss or errors in distribution.

Furthermore the invention contemplates a mail receptacle and carrying device which will. occupy a minimum amount of space 1 both during its use for the sorting and transportation of the mail.

Furthermore the invention contemplates a device of the character set forth which in case of fire admits of its instant removal without loss of the mail filed therein.

As a still further object the invention contemplates a device of the character set forth which is comparatively simple in its construction, inexpensive to manufacture and which is thoroughly reliable and highly efficient in its purpose.

With the above recited and other objects in View, the invention resides in the novel construction set forth in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the right is reserved to embodiments other than those actually illustratedherein to the full erftent indicated by the gens-ai ment ing of the terms in expressed.

ln 1 the drawings Figure 1 is a plan its unrolled or opened condition. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary;enlarged detail face view illustrating one of the strap loops and indicia card holders attached to the body of thedevice. i Fig. 3 is a rear view of the same prior to its assembly with the body.

Fig. t isa sectional viewtaken approximately on the line 44 of Fig. 2. l

Fig. -5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sec tional view taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. l. i I

6 is a perspective View of the carry ing device in rolled open condition.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference the de-vice-comp-rises:an elongated strip 10 preferably of canvas or any other suitable flexible material. The upper and lower ends of the canvas are preferably embraced by the binding strips 11 and 12 which are of a suitable rigid material for the purpose of holding the ends laterally which the claims are distended. The upper strip 11 is formed with eyelets 18 to allow f'orthe hanging or suspension of the device from nails or hooks on a wall or other support. To theinner face of the body or strip 10 a plurality of viewof the device in longitudinally spaced transversely disposed tudinal strap 18 is permanently secured its upper end as at 19 to the upper end of the body or strip 10 and is trained through the loops 16 which are disposed in longitudinal alignment. The lower end of the strap is provided with perforations 20 for selective engagement with a buckle 21 attached to the inner face of the body or strip 10 adjacent its lower end. The strap 18 is preferably, although not necessarily, of an elastic material and portions of said strap and the strip or body lying between the elements 14 define embracing and re taining pockets for the reception of the mail matter M which is filed therein. Due to the fact that the strap 18 is freely slidable through the loop 16 on the elements 1 1, it is obvious that the embracing and retaining pockets may be varied in size to snugly embrace and engage the matter which is filed in each pocket. The card holders 17 are designed to receive indicia bearing cards 22 which indicate the names of the individuals whose mail is to be filed in the respective pockets and the arrangement of the cards is such that ti e mail is properly lined up for distribution over the route to be taken by the carrier. (in the inner face of each strip or body suitable indii-ia 23 is inscribed and similar or corresponding indicia L4 is inscribed on the lower end of the (interface so that the same is clearly visible when the device is in rolled up condition illustrated in Fig. 6. In order to maintain the device in rolled up condition a belt 25 having a buckle 26 at one end is secured or attached as at 27 to the outer side of the upper end of the strip or body 10.

In contradistinction to the present old method or systei'm the carrier upon his arrival from the route, after distribution, hangs the new device on the wall and is ready for filing the next day or for the next delivery. Every time a piece of mail is filed in the device it is there to stay and does not have to be touched again until it is ready for distribution By virtue of this device the system requires only an ordinary distributing bench from which the postmaster. after sorting the mail, deliver the same to the carrier of each route who .in turn files the same in the respective pockets. After the mail is filed in the pockets of the devices and the device is rolled it is amply protected from the weather and eliminates the possibility of danger of the mail blowing away or becoming wet or muddy. as the strap 18 securely holds it in the pockets defined by the strap. it will be further appreciated that by hanging t ie devices on the wall for filing a minimum amount of space is required. When distributing or delivering the mail en route from the device it is accomplished in the following manner: The devie is laid on the seat of the vehicle next to the carrier and is unwound while dhtrihnting and rewound at the same time after the extraction of the mail rrom the pockets.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that an extremely simple and etiicient device has been provided for facilitating the carrying or distribution of mail. especially on rural routes.

1 claim:

1. A device for facilitating the sorting, carrying and distribution of mail comprising an elongated sheet of flexible material, means at the opposite ends of the sheet for holding the same laterally distended, alined apertured portions in one end of said sheet to afford means for suspending the same vertically from a support to permit the application of the mail thereto, a longitudinally extending strap on the inner face of said sheet having a permanent connection with the inner face of the sheet at on one end and an adjustable connection therewith the opposite end, longitudinally spaced transverse strips carried by the inner face of the sheet and secured thereto at their opposite ends, guide loops on the inner face oi each strip through which the strap is trained to define between said strap and the sheet a plurality o'l adjustable mail matter embracing and retaining loops and means secured to the outer side of the sheet for holding the same in a rolledup condition.

2. A device for facilitating the sorting, carrying and distributi n or" mail comprising an elongated sheet of flexible material, means at the opposite ends of the sheet for holding the same laterally distended, alined apertured gortions in one end of said sheet to afford means for suspending the same vertically from a support to permit the ap plication oi the mail thereto, a longitudinally extending strap on the inner taco of said sheet having a permanent connection with the inner lace Fl the sheet at one end and an adjustable cminection therewith at the opposite cud. longitudinally spaced transverse strips carried by the inner face of the sheet and secured thereto at their opposite ends. guide loops on the inner faic of each strip through which the strap is trained to define between said strap and the sheet a plurality of adjustable mail matter embracing and retaining loops and means secured to the outer side of the sheet for holding the same in a rolled-up condition and elements for the reception of indicia hearing guides relative to each receiving loop secured to the outer face of each cross strip.

OTTO Dan. 

